Principal Private Secretary to the President, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu during a bilateral meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister, Keir Starmer at the Prime Minister's Office at Downing Street, London
New Nigeria, UK migration deal to expedite deportation of over 2,000 Nigerians
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have entered into a fresh migration agreement that will enable the deportation of more than 2,000 Nigerians who lack legal status in the UK.
The deal was finalised during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to the UK, with the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, formalising an arrangement aimed at strengthening cooperation on migration control and security.
The agreement is expected to fast-track the return of failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and convicted offenders.
Under the terms, British authorities may proceed with the removal of individuals who have exhausted their legal options to remain, including hundreds of Nigerians whose asylum appeals have been denied, as well as others convicted of crimes and awaiting deportation.
UK officials have indicated that approximately 961 Nigerians have already completed the asylum appeal process, while more than 1,100 offenders are currently in line for deportation.
The new accord is designed to clear longstanding delays and accelerate proceedings.
A key provision in the deal is Nigeria’s acceptance of “UK letters” as valid identification for deportation purposes.
These documents will serve as substitutes for passports in cases where individuals lack proper travel papers—a move seen as a breakthrough, as documentation issues had previously hampered deportations.
While specific details such as the implementation date and financial terms have not been disclosed, questions remain over whether the agreement will apply strictly to Nigerian citizens or extend to individuals linked to Nigeria.
Tunji-Ojo, who spoke on the deal, said Nigeria remains committed to its international responsibilities and to maintaining strong diplomatic ties.
“We are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations. To sustain that relationship, we must be as open and as fair as possible,” he stated.
On the UK side, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, described Nigeria as an important partner in managing migration issues, stressing the need for fairness within the system.
“We owe everyone across the system fairness,” Norris said, adding that “anyone who abuses our system, breaks our laws or attempts to circumvent immigration rules will be removed.”
Beyond deportation, the agreement encompasses joint efforts to tackle organised immigration crime. Both countries will share intelligence and conduct coordinated operations aimed at dismantling networks involved in visa fraud and illegal migration activities.
Authorities are targeting schemes such as fake job sponsorships, sham marriages, and forged financial documents, with the partnership also set to address rising cases of online fraud, including romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency-related crimes.
President Tinubu at the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday, July 6, 2025
As part of the deal, Nigeria is expected to strengthen its laws on immigration offences. A new intelligence-sharing structure, described as a “fusion cell,” will bring together government agencies, financial institutions, tech firms, and telecom companies to improve enforcement.
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